Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video/beam shots

I got my Spartan 1 Watt Portable Laser!

YouTube - Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser

So far the divergence is very disappointing. From more then 20 feet away the dot is more obviously a bar, and farther then that it's better to describe it as a line. I have not done any measurements yet, but when I direct the laser in the daytime at my 1/4 mile target, the line seams to be as much as 8 feet long! I'm going to have to use a construction tape measure!

I have DrLava's corrective optics on the way, and since the diode and lens is sunk so far into the driver, I am suspecting that I may be able to fashion the corrective optics into the spartan handheld. The optics need to be separated by 2cm, which I most certainly have room for.

The build of the laser is absolutely incredible. It feels amazingly solid, the anodizing is very hard, yet smooth. No fingerprints are left behind. I really wish this laser was waterproof!

I can't wait to get my 100mW WL PD Pro to compare.

Update:
The beam is in fact coming out of the host crooked! This solves the issue with only half of the beam expander illuminating. Well that sucks :-(

Some Beam Shots of my Spartan 447nm 1W using Lithium Photo Cells. Here are a few previews I links, I have more on my Flickr Set:












This last one is a longer exposure to show off how crooked the beam is coming out of the host. I layed it down on a sock and slowly rotated the host. This is why the beam expander I have is pretty much useless. I still fall in the 7 day satisfaction window for the return, so I am having the laser returned in hope of getting a straighter exit beam. DL claims it is not subject to warrenty as a defect, its just a feature of the laser...which do not sound right to me, as the laser is a pointing device and if I had this mounted on my car-4 rifle, it would not line up properly. Hopefully the next one is straight.



Here's a few extra shots with the beam and my stock 18-55mm lens:







And then a few extra beam shots from further down the beam origin. Please note that I think the batteries are getting weaker now, as the beam does not seam as bright to my eye:






The image set on my flickr account can be found here:

Laser Photography - a set on Flickr

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video + beam shots

op:

No beam shots?

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

I'm trying to upload the video again, it seamed to have cut out halfway. I made the video with iMovie on my iPhone, so I think its having format issues. If you browse my Laser set you can see the beam shots I had planned to include in the video. Tonight I plan on getting some better shots with my Canon XSi.

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

That's a nice beam expander you have there, sir.

...and a nice laser too.

-Trevor

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

twhite828 said:

That's a nice beam expander you have there, sir.

...and a nice laser too.

-Trevor

Click to expand...

Unfortunately the beam expander does not seam to work well with the 1 Watt Spartan at all. I would have to guess that only half the beam makes it into the expander, and since its not even, it does not completely expand the beam. I'd say the expander is a Bust, Useless for this laser actually.

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

Spartan X said:

Unfortunately the beam expander does not seam to work well with the 1 Watt Spartan at all. I would have to guess that only half the beam makes it into the expander, and since its not even, it does not completely expand the beam. I'd say the expander is a Bust, Useless for this laser actually.

Click to expand...

Does the beam come out of the laser at an angle?

-Trevor

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

Hi Spartan X,

Sorry to hear the beam expander doesn't work too well with the laser. I haven't even been able to remove my front cap. How hard was it to remove yours? Was a fair amount of effort required?

I believe DragonLasers are working on a new type of beam expander that will fit more types of laser so hopefully that will work better when it comes out.

Beam expander aside do you like the laser?

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

The beam comes out of the aperture very straight. I believe it is due to the large beam diameter. The expander was made for a 2.5mm beam, where as the Beam is closer to 4mm in this instance. I'll do some more testing later. I plan to use the beam expander in my DIY build. The spartan collimating lens and diode sit pretty far back from the front of the laser. I'm hoping that if I can move that up very close to the entrance of the expander, I'll get better results.

I used a Jar Opener (rubber disc) to get a grip and screw it off.

Re: Dragon Lasers Spartan 447nm 1 Watt Portable Laser Un-Boxing Video

twhite828 said:

Does the beam come out of the laser at an angle?

-Trevor

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, Yes. Now that its dark enough, I can perceive a slight angle. That must be the issue.

Updated with beam shots!

Nice pics +rep

Sucks that ur camera pics the nice 445nm deep blue as violet

I finally got a clamp to attach my lasers to my tripod!

Here's a few pictures of the Dot at a distance of 400 Meters (1/4 Mile)

With a starting beam diameter of 3.5mm fopr the fast axis, the Bar was about 1.422 meters long(I forgot to measure the slow axis)

Good beamshot's were not possible since my monopod was not good enough to do a long exposure shot(I only have 1 tripod)

I also used my WL PD Pro 100mW 532nm. From the same distance the dot was 0.610 meters across.






532nm 100mW:

Crystal Head Vodka, with a hint of 445nm Laser light!

Great choice in vodka, that stuff is just delicious. Also cool laser, sucks about the divergence but Im not too sure if Ive seen any high powered blues have a great dot after 1/4 mile.

Nice pics.:beer:

Your camera seems to make the beam look more like 405. Unfortunately my camera makes my 405 look like 445. I wish I could get some violet shots.

I would like to see what 405 looks like on that camera.:undecided:


Here is a shot of a 405 and a 445 on my camera. Just blue.

I think is has something to do with how close to UV light they are. Maybe an old fashion film camera might do a better job. My cellphone camera makes my 405 ebay pointer look like a goddamn 500mw beast.